Ready For Mercury Retrograde? Here's What To Know + How To Handle It

Just as a refresher, Mercury is the planet of communication, information, logic, and transportation. When it goes retrograde, it's not actually moving backwards, but it does appear to be from our perspective on Earth—and subsequently, Mercury-related themes can get turned on their heads.

Things like communication mishaps, technological errors, and travel delays are to be expected, and that includes during the multi-week shadow period before and after each Mercury retrograde, as well.

Astrologer Jennifer Racioppi tells mbg that we're looking at September 9 through October 2 for this retrograde. "Mercury goes retrograde on the 9th at eight degrees of Libra, and then it goes from eight degrees all the way to zero degrees of Libra, moving into Virgo, and stationing direct at 24 degrees of Virgo on the 2nd," she explains.

Mercury retrogrades are notorious for causing issues in relationships, from communication confusion, to bringing exes from the past back into your life. And since Mercury is going retrograde in Libra, which is a very relationship-oriented sign, there's going to be extra emphasis on the relationship-front.

As Racioppi says, Libra is all about balance and justice. So during this retrograde, get clear on relationship dynamics and how you're showing up to others, as well as your relationship to justice, truth, and your own values.

On top of that, retrograde periods are a time to reflect and go inward, and this one is no exception. Racioppi tells mbg it can be helpful to think about what this period of adjustment can mean for you as we all transition to a new season. "How can we use this period of adjustment to transition, to get our priorities right, to get our values right, to make sure we're doing the best we can? Because on a macro level, we're flailing, but on a micro level, we can still be activating meaning," she explains.